Suspension and expulsions are poor solutions to improve school climate and culture. Out-of-school behavioral consequences leave students who need positive relationships with adults disconnected from academic and emotional supports and with gaps in their learning. Cheyenne High School was the first school to bring restorative practices to the Clark County School District. Cheyenne implemented restorative practices to address social and emotional barriers that impede equal educational outcomes for all students. As a result, suspensions and expulsions decreased, relationships between teachers and students improved, and Cheyenne’s graduation rate soared. This session will help participants implement restorative practices in their schools, districts, or states, improve school climate, and maintain continuous learning for all students.
Dr. Zachary Scott Robbins is the author of Restorative Justice Tribunal and Ways to Derail Jim Crow Discipline in schools. He started to first restorative justice program in Nevada. On behalf of the Nevada Department of Education and the Nevada Association of Secondary School Administrators, Dr. Robbins teaches educators throughout Nevada how to implement restorative practices.